Sanford police release 911 call in church robbery

April 28, 2011|By Susan Jacobson, Orlando Sentinel

A man who had just been robbed at his church told authorities that the two men who committed the robbery had been armed with large guns.

Sanford police today released a recording of a 911 call made in the terrifying minutes after the two masked men robbed three church band members and a pastor Wednesday night at Iglesia Apostólica, 2599 Sanford Ave.

The band was practicing about 9 p.m. when the robbers burst in, said Sgt. David Morgenstern, a police spokesman. The robbers stole wallets, car keys, cash and credit cards.

The Spanish-speaking man, who was assisted by a translator on the call, said nobody had been hurt during the incident. He also said that the robbers had been dressed in all black, and that nobody at the church saw whether they took a vehicle

Church members were forced into a back room, Morgenstern said.

Investigators used dogs and a Seminole County sheriff's helicopter, but they could not locate the robbers. Police dusted for prints.

"One print can take us a long way, so hopefully we'll get something out of that," Morgenstern said.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious at the church, which is near 26th Street, is asked to call police. The number is 407-688-5070.